incalculable

adjective

in·​cal·​cu·​la·​ble (ˌ)in-ˈkal-kyə-lə-bəl 

: not capable of being calculated: such as

a

: very great

did incalculable damage

b

: not predictable : uncertain

an incalculable outcome

incalculability

(ˌ)in-ˌkal-kyə-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

incalculably

(ˌ)in-ˈkal-kyə-lə-blē 

adverb

Examples of incalculable in a Sentence

The extent of the damage is incalculable.

The collection is of incalculable value to historians.

The future consequences of their decision are incalculable.

Recent Examples on the Web

Others say the number is incalculable if civilians are considered. —Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024

For every Parisian joyous about this celebration, there is some incalculable number who are cranky — or worried — about their safety. —Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 26 July 2024

Such behavior also damages public trust in the police and costs lives in some instances — costs that are incalculable in dollar terms but inarguable nonetheless. —David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 22 Nov. 2024

The value, aside from allowing those like me to have access to otherwise hard-to-find data, is incalculable. —Michael Lynch, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin incalculābilis, from Latin in- in- entry 1 + New Latin calculābilis calculable

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

incalculable

adjective

in·​cal·​cu·​la·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈkal-kyə-lə-bəl 

: not able to be calculated: as

a

: very great

b

: not able to be predicted

incalculability

(ˌ)in-ˌkal-kyə-lə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

incalculably

(ˈ)in-ˈkal-kyə-lə-blē 

adverb